Government must come clean on its stance on coal

Member for Morwell Russell Northe has called on the Andrews Labor Government to come clean on its stance on coal and finally release its coal policy as previously promised.

In November 2015, the State Government committed to releasing a coal policy by the end of 2016, but with just one week to Christmas this policy has still not been announced.

Mr Northe has raised these issues in Parliament on many occasions including just recently, where the Minister for Resources verified in writing that the government would still release its policy in December 2016.

Mr Northe said the Minister in his latest response appears to have suggested that his Government now won’t release its coal policy, but rather a coal policy statement.

“The State Government announced with much fanfare that Mr Rhys Edwards would undertake a review of coal development programs; however the Government won’t even release details of Mr Edwards final report,” Mr Northe said.

“Coal has been long been the key to our local economy over many decades and would have a vital role in the Latrobe Valley for decades to come.

“The Latrobe Valley community is keen to understand the Government’s position on the future use of brown coal.”

Mr Northe said we know Daniel Andrews supports the closure of Hazelwood Power Station, but does he support the future use of brown coal in not only the energy sector but for other uses and purposes.

“It’s staggering that whilst hundreds of jobs will be lost following the closure of Hazelwood power station in less than four months’ time; Daniel Andrews can’t even tell our community if he supports the future use of brown coal,” Mr Northe said.

“The Government needs to stop leaving the people of Latrobe Valley in the dark and release his Governments coal policy immediately.”